CLOSED: A large Caterpillar Feeding on Roses, Please Help I.D.

Lily_love Central, AL(Zone 7b) Jun 08, 2009

This fella has a ravenous appetite. He strips a branch of my prized Rose down in no time. Please help I.D. so I can see about relocating him to a more/less prized rose or other foodsource.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 08, 2009

It's a polyphemus moth caterpillar! At least I think so... it might be another silk moth of some kind, but maybe you can tell from pictures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antheraea_polyphemus

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/146/

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Lily_love Central, AL(Zone 7b) Jun 08, 2009

Oooh wow! Claypa. Many thanks. I think you're correct. I've seen the adult Polyphemus, but not the catperpillar.

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Sheila_FW Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 10, 2009

Guess you can move him to an oak or something to save your roses. Looks like he will be going to cocoon stage before long.

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Lily_love Central, AL(Zone 7b) Jun 10, 2009

The cat. is fascinating to me! Day before yesterday, it was hidden but I once again found it yesterday. Today, I noticed it is resting alot (not eating very much, less damages evidence to the rose). I am suprised that the roses' thorns don't puncture his softbody! And part of his tail-end coloring actually blended in with the thorns. Will it cause any irritation if I touch him barehanded? With gloves on I afraid I can't feel him and endanger him with crushing accident?

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Sheila_FW Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 10, 2009

No, it won't bother him if you don't squeeze him. The suckers on his feet hold on pretty tightly though. He is very slow, they eat at night mainly. Frostweed share a batch of cats she had with me a month or so ago and we put them in a container with torn paper towels and the oak leaves (twigs and all). When they made their cocoons they used the towels as well as the leaves.

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